Car-coupling



(No Mqdel.) 2 sheetsl-Shet 1.v M'. R. ALLEN.

r GAR GoUPLNG. r No. 288,754'. Patented Novpzo, 18.83.`

mu(No Modeln.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

l M. R. ALLEN.

GAR OUPLING.

Patented Nov. 20, 1883.

. N v N Pzzns, Phnwunwgmpmf. washington, u c.

` isburg, in the county of Marshall and State of lowing is a specification.

` y insured, and also to provide 'simple and effi belLmouth, and has formed in its bottom a couplings in which a pivoted tumbler located UNITED STATES i PATENT FFICE..

MYRICK R. ALLEN, OF LEWISBURG, TENNESSEE.

CAR-COUPLING.,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,754, dated November 20,1883,

Application filed October 13, 1883. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern..l

Be it known that l, MYRICK R. ALLEN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Lew- Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the fol- Tliis invention relates to that class of carwithinthe drawlhead is adapted to support the coupling-pin preparatory to coupling, and to release and allow the tumbler to drop when the tumbler is pushed back by the link entering the drawhead.

`The object of my invention is to improve the construction of the draw-head and tumbler, whereby certainty of action is at all times cient means for uncoupling from either the top o1" side of a car without going between two adjacent cars. These objects l". attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and hereinafter particularly described.

Figure l of the drawings is a front elevation of the coupling devices. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the draw-head insection. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modication of the draw-head and tumbler with the other devices connected therewith. Fig. Ll is a side eleva-` tion thereof with the draw-headin section.

In the drawings, the letter A indicates the draw-head, which is formed with the usual longitudinal channel or recess, F, to receive the lower end of the tumbler D, so that the said lower end will be below the bottom side of the space within the draw-head, and hence the link in being pushed back cannot slip under and back of the tumbler, andthe tumble cannot be drawn out of the head.

The link B (shown in dotted lines) and the coupling-pin Care both of ordinary construction, the latter being arranged to work within a hole, c, formed vertically through the drawhead. u Preparatory to coupling, the pin is supported in the elevated position shown, by means of a pivoted tumbler, D, that is arranged within the draw-head and hinged at its two upper corners, d, upon a horizontal crossrod or pivot, E, whichis secured at its ends in the sides of the draw-head. i i i n back by it.

the front face of thetumbler, the latter is The tumbler is preferably of the form shown in Figs. l and "2, with a curved front face, andi is formed near its upper end with a seat, di',

supports in a vertical position when the link is out ofthe draw-head. When the tumbler is of the form shown in Figs. l and 2, it will hang vertically when the link is out of the head, and its weight will counterbalance that of the couplingpin, so that it will not be pushed When the link is pushed against pressed backward and upward into the space within the draw-head, when the coupling-pin p is free to fall and enter the link to hold it in place. When the tumbler is so pressed back, it will rest upon the top of the rear part of the link and hold it in a horizontal position, so as to readily enter the draw-head of the oar to be coupled thereby. `As soon as the pin is withdrawn from the link the tumbler will press the same outward and `assume its vertical position. The curvedfront face of the tumbler permits it tobe more easily pushed back to 4effect the coupling.

The device for raising the pin in uncoupling from either the top orl side of the car is constructed and arranged as follows: A bar, Gr, secured to the end of the car, is formed or provided with a pair of parallel horizontal arms, g', that extend out at right angles to the end of the car, and a vertical lifting-rod, H,

is arranged to slide through perforations in the ends of said arms. The coupling-pin is connected by a chain with the lower end of the vertical lifting bar, andthe latter is formed with suitable stops, which arrest its downward movement through the horizontal arms after' the coupling-pin has entered the draw-head and engaged the link.` This vertical lifting; rod can be operated in two ways,one being by depressing a foot-lever, I, located on top of the car, and the other being by 'depressing a hand-lever, K, that is pivoted to the end of "the car and extendedout from the side of the' same. l f

f" The foot-lever I is pivoted in a standard, fi,

upon the top of the car, and connected at one end with the `lifting-rod. By this neans a- IOD ' brakeman on top of the car can depress the lever with his foot, and thereby raise the lifting-rod and pin, and at the same time manipulate the brake-wheel with his hands. The hand-lever K, that ispivoted to the end of the car, connects at its inner end by a link, L, with a horizontal arm, M, secured to the liftingrod. This hand-lever K works between the end of the car and the guide-plate Z, and is pivoted at its inner end to the said link. The horizontal arm M extends from a collar, m, fixed upon thelifting-rod, and at its opposite end said arm is provided with fixed washers or collars m', between which the link is manipulated. It will be observed that the collar m upon the lifting-rod constitutes one of the stops for limiting its disk, the rtmaining stop being located at the top end of said rod. To lock the lifting-rod and coupling-pin in an elevated position a pin, N, is connected with the end of the car by a chain and staple in such position that after depressing the outer end of the hand-lever, and thereby elevating the lifting-rod, the pin N can be inserted above the lever in a socket formed in the car, and thus lock the said lever end down.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I show a modification of the tumbler and the draw-head; but the operation in all essentials is the same as that of the preferred form shown in Figs. l and 2. The devices for raising the pin are the same. In the modification the draw-head has formed in its rear head a recess, a, for receiving one end of the coupling-link when the latter is passed into the draw-head, so as to support the link in ahorizontal position, ready for coupling with the coupling devices of the neXt car. In the modification the channel F continues back to the rear wall in the draw-head, and then runs up vertically in said wall, so that after the link has4 been pushed back and received into the transverse recess a the tuinbler will be swung back and up into the vertical continuation F of the channel F, and being behind the link Will rest upon the end of the same and assist in holding it in a horizontal position, and be in readiness to swing dou nl to a vertical position as soon as the link is withdrawn. The lower portion of the tumbler is enlarged or weighted, as indicated at d', so as to insure its assuming a vertical position after the link has been removed from the drawhead, and also to cause it to counterbalance the weight of the coupling-pin, which, as already stated, preparatory to coupling, rests upon a seat, da, in this instance formed by a iiange projecting forward from the upper end ofthetumbler. The iiange projects at right angles tothe front face ofthe tumbler, and is formed with a flange, di, at its sides, so as to prevent the pinl from slipping off sidewise. Under my construction, when the link is inserted in the draw-head and 'the pin is down, the tumbler rests on' the link behind the pin and holds it to its adjustment, and when the link is out of the draw-head the tumbler hangs forward and holds up the pin until the link in the approaching car enters the draw-head.

It will thus be seen that avery perfect coupling is effected in a very simple manner, with certainty, and Without endangering the lives of brakemen by passing between the cars to effect the coupling and uncoupling thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In a car-coupler, the combination of a draw-head formed with a channel or recess in its bottom, and a tumbler pivoted therein, the said tumbler being formed forward of and below its pivotal point with a concave seat for the coupling, and adapted to fit within said recess when the link is not within the head, and to rest on the link when it is therein, and hold the same in position for coupling with the other coupler, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head, of the tumbler pivoted therein, and formed with a curved face receding, as shown, and forward of its pivotal point, with a concave seat for the coupling-pin, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a car-coupling, of the coupling-pin and the'pivoted tumbler l), with the draw-head formed withv the longitudinal and vertical channels F FQ for thelower end of the tumbler to swing in, and with the recess y, for receiving an end of the link after the tumbler has been swung to 'the rear of said recess, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a car-coupling, of the draw-head and its pivoted tumbler with the coupling-pin C, the vertical lifting-rod H, connected with the coupling-pin, a foot-lever connected with said lifting-lever, and located upon the top of the car, and a hand-lever, K, pivoted to the end of the car, and connected by a link with said lifting-rod, whereby the car can be uncoupled from either the top or side, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the draw-head and its pivoted tumbler, of the coupling-pin C, the vertical lifting-rod H, passing through horizontal arms g, and iexibly connected with the coupling-pin, the foot -lever I, pivoted to a standard on top of the car and connected with the upper end of the lifting-rod, and the handlever K, pivoted to the end of the car and connected by a link with an arm, M, extending horizontally from the lifting-rod, said inembers being constructed and organized substantially as described.

6. In a car-coupler, the combination of the coupling-pin,the vert-ical lifting-rod connected with the coupling-pin, and provided with stops for limiting its downward movement, the footlever pivoted at the top of the car and connected with the upper end of the lifting-rod, and the hand-lever pivoted to the end of the car and connected by a link with the arm eX- tending horizontally from the lifting-rod, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the coupling-pin, the

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ing

liftingdever provided with stops, and passing `divins extending horizontally from the oar, the l In testimony whereof I have hereunto set Io my hand in the presence of two subscribing lnhrough said arms and Connecting with the Witnesses.

pin, Jshe hand-lever pivoted to the oar, the

arm rigidly connected et one end to the lift- MYRICK R. ALLEN. ing-lever, and provided with the collars at the opposite end7 and the link connecting the I Vitnesses:

ALvAN B. EWING,

said erm and tlhe hand-lever, substantially as I HILL J ALLEN.

described. 

